Published at Thursday, April 12th, 2018 - 19:39:31 PM. Hockey Gear and Equipment. By Henrike Elvira.

SKATING SKILLS The foundation of goaltending is based on balance and edges. The better skater you are the better goaltender you will be. Before every practice and every game your warmup should consist of simple skating drills: T-pushes shuffles and slides. You use a T-push for long crease movements. Push with one leg turn and point your toe to where you want to go with the other. Push then glide on that blade to the area you want to be. Shuffles are for small positional adjustments moving side to side. It′s similar to a small side step. None of them needs to take long. It can be one set of 10 reps each and can take anywhere from two to 10 minutes. My NHL goalie routine consisted of the same skating drills every day. The letter drills are the most effective. Use them do them and become a better goalie.

The key to a backhand shot is the element of surprise. Since the shot is seldom practiced or used in a game many goalies aren′t used to the shot. They′re not used to how the puck is going to come off the stick whether it′s going to go low or high left or right. And when you don′t have to waste time moving the puck to your forehand you don′t allow the goaltender time to set up.

Players must learn to protect themselves especially along the boards. When going into the corner use some fakes with your body stick or skates to avoid being a stationary target. Keep your skates parallel to the boards rather than pointing toward the boards. As soon as you pick up the puck move out of the area quickly. If you can′t avoid being checked position yourself to accept the blow. If you are checked from the side keep your head up get a good stable position feet apart knees bent body in a low position forearms and hands on the boards.